Apparatus for removing thread from spindle shanks



W 4, 1967 F. SCHUMANN ETAL 3,312,951

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING THREAD FROM SPINDLE SHANKS Filed Nov. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 4 FRITZ SCHUMANN ALFRED NIKEL ATTORNE s.

April 4, 1967 F. SCHUMANN ETAL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING THREAD FROM SPINDLE SHANKS Filed Nov. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FRITZ SCHUMANN ALFRED NIKEL. BY V M U ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 4, E96? 3,312,051 APPARATUS FOR REMOVWG THREAD FROM SPINDLE SHANKS Fritz Schumann and Alfred Nike], both of llngolstadt,

Germany, assignors to Deutscher Spinnereimaschinenban lngolstadt, Ingolstadt (Danube), Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 507,497 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 14, 1964, 1) 45,352 9 Claims. (Cl. 57-345) The invention relates to an apparatus for removing the threads wound on spindle shanks. The apparatus is applicable where the spindle shank is equipped with a device for receiving the thread when it is bottom-wound.

It is in the prior art of yarn spinning to provide for a bottom-wind after the filling of a cop and before the full cop is withdrawn. Bottom-winding has the purpose of assuring the breaking and holding of the yarn end without having to apply manually to the empty cop tube the thread end remaining on the runner. Both in the case of spinning onto tubes and in the case of automatic rewinding and changing of cops, it is necessary to. do the bottom-winding not on the foot of the spinning tube, but on the spindle or on a part pertaining to the spindle. It has therefore already been proposed (German Patent 1,079,512) to provide a collar over the spindle shank so as to form a jacket enveloping the foot of the spool and so as to rotate with the spindle. After a relatively large number of bottom winds have accumulated, this jacket must be removed from the spindle foot and be cleaned off. This known device has the advantage that the spindle remains free of thread remnants. It necessitates, however, an additional manual operation for the purpose of cleaning or replacing the jackets.

In contrast to this prior art device, the present invention is aimed at eliminating the manual removal of bottomwound thread remnants from the spindle or from a jacket enveloping the spool foot, or of a'bottom-wind tube. Precisely in the case of machines which are set up for bottom- Winding after delivery, either for the purpose of facilitating manual cop removal or the automatic replacement of full cops with empty tubes, it has proven expedient to force bottom-wind tubes or jackets (which pertain to the prior art) onto the existing spindles, but they, too, have to be removed from time to time, as mentioned above. The present invention thus offers an important advance in the automation of ring spinning machines and constitutes an important improvement of theknown device, even in the case of machines which are converted after delivery to automatic operation.

The problem is solved according to the invention by associating with the spindles means for picking up and sucking away the bottom-wound threads. These means consist preferentially in associating with the spindles a scraping device and a suction nozzle. These can be fastened, for example, to a cop removing device of the prior art and can be capable of traveling with the latter along the rows of spindles. Instead of one scraping device and one suction nozzle for a plurality of spin-dies, a scraping device and a suction nozzle can also be provided for each spindle, the scrapers and suction nozzles associated with the spindles being preferably disposed behind the spindles from the operators viewpoint. The scraping device can consist of two saw-toothed blades whose teeth face in opposite directions. The scraping device can furthermore also consist of a steel brush. Also, the suction orifice can be designed to serve simultaneously as a scraping device.

Further details of the invention are represented in the drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the arrangement of the apparatus of the invention on a ring spinning machine, respectively,

in a side view and as seen by the operator;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the device of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and shows a detail of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of one embodiment of the scraper;

FIG. 5 shows another possibility for the apparatus of the invention, in which one scraping device and one suc tion nozzle is provided for each spindle; and

PEG. 6 is an elevation view showing an embodiment wherein the suction device is mounted on a cop changer.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the apparatus is an independent unit which is dispose-d so as to travel along a spinning machine. A vacuum device 2, which comprises a blower (not shown) to create an aspiration of air and a tank and filter (not shown) for receiving the thread remnants, is fastened to a supporting frame on which wheels 5 and 51 are provided. By means of wheels 5, the entire device is suspended on a rail 3 mounted along the ring spinning machine, While it rests with wheels 51 against a guiding rail 41. The suction device 2 has a suction head 21 with a flattened suction nozzle 8, before whose orifice there is disposed a scraping device 7.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the scraping device 7 consists of two sawtoothed blades '71 and 72 whose teeth face in opposite directions. The two blades 71 and 72 are rigidly fastened to a supporting yoke 9, while the latter is mounted on supporting arms 91 by means of springs 1H? so as to be elastically displaceable with respect to the suction nozzle 8. The suction nozzle 8 has slots at its sides, so that the supporting yoke 9 with saw-blades '71 and 72 can be pushed back partially into the orifice of suction nozzle 8. The scraping device 7 is therefore capable of elastically compensating for different horizontal spacing between it and the spindles 16.

A bottom-wind tube 6 is mounted on spindle is above spindle shank 1, the said tube having an annular groove 61 at its upper end to receive the bottom-winds. The suction device 2 is so disposed in the supporting frame 95 that the blades 71 and 72 come into engagement with the annular groove 61. If desired, the suction device 2 is fastened with screws in elongated holes or the like in the supporting frame in such a manner that the vertical and horizontal spacing of the scraping device '7 is adjustable accordingly.

As soon as the scraping device comes into engagament with the annular groove 61, the bottom-wound threads or thread remnants are caught by the teeth on saw blades 71 and 72 and are torn up. The suction nozzle 8 at the same time sucks up the loose thread remnants. To make the action of the scraping device independent of the direction of rotation of the spindles, the teeth of the one saw-blade are all directed in the opposite direction of those of the other saw-blade. A brush made of wire bristles can also be used instead of the saw-blades 71 and 72. It is also possible to make the orifice of the suction nozzle 8 shallower and simultaneously design it as a scraping device which engages into the annular groove 6.

The vacuum device 2 is provided with a handle 2a for moving the device manually over the track 3.

Needless to say, the suction nozzle and the scraping device can also be installed directly on a prior art cop pulling device and be carried along with the latter past the spindles during the changing of the cops.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, wherein one suction nozzle 81 and one scraping device 7 is permanently associated with each spindle 16 of the two rows, 31 and 31a, of spindles of a ring spinning machine. Each suction nozzle orifice is :onstructed as a scraping device. The individual suction 1OZZl6S 81 for each row are connected, respectively, to ;uction ducts 84 and 84a. These suction ducts together with their suction nozzles 81 are mounted so that they 116 horizontally displaceable, and earns 83, biased by ;prings 32, urge the suction nozzles against the spindles [6. The suction nozzles 8-1 are constructed as scrapers. Releasing arms 33 are connected to the cams 83 and can 3e actuated to withdraw the suction nozzles from the spindles. In FIG. 5, the nozzles are shown withdrawn from the spindles.

The thread remnants that gather are pulled up by the scrapers 7' and sucked away by the suction nozzles 81 and carried to a central filter tank (not shown). To compensate for different horizontal spacings between suction nozzles 81 and spindles 16, the former are connected in each case to the suction duct 84 by an elastic bellows 82.

Thus, the invention provides an improvement in spinning apparatus for producing cops of filament material having a cop tube spindle, and holding means for holding the thread on the portion of the spindle during exchange of a cop for an empty cop tube, whereby thread is collected on said portion of the spindle. The invention provides the improvement comprising a collected thread removing device for removing the collected thread from the spindle. This device includes a suction means, such as the vacuum device 2 (FIG. 1) having an intake opening, for example the intake opening 8a (FIG. 3), and release means for releasing collected threads from the spindle, for example, the saw-blades '71, 72 (FIG. 4). The release means can be mounted on the suction means for disposition thereof in operative position when the suction means is disposed with its intake opening adjacent the portion of the spindle on which thread is collected, for application of suction to the collected thread. See FIG. 3, wherein the inlet opening 8a of the nozzle 8 of a suction device is disposed adjacent the annular groove 61 in which threads are collected, and the scraper or releaser means is disposed in a position for loosening threads contained in the annular groove. Suitable means are provided for mounting the suction means as described, for example a mounting as is shown in FIG. 1 comprising the track 3, guide rail 41, and the rollers 5 and 51. This mounting accommodates the use of a suction means to service a plurality of spindles, as the guide rail 41 and the track 3 can be laid out to guide the suction means successively to the spindles to dispose the suction means, successively, in operative position with respect to the spindles.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the collected thread removing device can be used in combination with a cop removing device for successively removing cops from the successive spindles of spinning apparatus having a plurality of spindles. Such a cop removing device is disclosed in US. application Ser. No. 378,013, filed June 25, 1964. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6. The cop removing device comprises a car 33 mounted on Wheels 34 and also on tracks 35 which serve to guide the cop removing device past the spindles for removal of cops. A bracket 36 is mounted on the car 33, and the suction or vacuum device 2 is mounted on the bracket by a second bracket 37. Thus, the collected thread removing device is mounted on the cop removing device for travel with the cop removing device past the spindles for servicing of the spindles to remove collected thread as is described above, with reference to other embodiments.

While the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, the disclosed embodiments are merely representative and do not serve to set forth the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In spinning apparatus for producing cops of thread having a cop tube spindle, and holding means for holding the thread on a portion of the spindle during exchange of a cop for an empty cop tube, whereby thread is collected on said portion of the spindle, the improvement which comprises:

(I) a collected thread removing device for removing said collected thread from the spindle, including:

(A) a suction means having an intake opening,-

(B) releaser means for releasing the col-lected threads from the spindle, mounted on the suction means for disposition in operative position when the suction means is disposed with the intake opening adjacent said portion of the spindle for application of suction to collected thread; and

(II) mounting means serving for mounting of the suction means with the suction means disposed as aforesaid,

whereby said device can be mounted in operative position with respect to the spindle to release collected thread and draw the released thread-s into the suction means intake opening.

2. Spinning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a plurality of said spindles and holding means as aforesaid for each spindle, and said mounting means includes means for guiding of the suction means successively to the spindles to dispose the suction means in said operative position with respect thereto.

3. Spinning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a plurality of said spindles and holding means as aforesaid for each spindle, and a cop removing device for successively removing cops from successive spindles, and guide means for guiding the cop removing device past the spindles for the removal of cops, said collected thread removing device being mounted on the cop removing device.

4. Spinning apparatus according to claim 1, said releaser means comprising a first saw tooth blade disposed for cutting of collected thread upon rotation of the spindle in one direction, and a second saw tooth blade disposed for cutting of collected thread when the spindle rotates in the opposite direction.

5. Spinning apparatus according to claim 1, said releaser means comprising a peripheral edge portion of the intake opening contoured to provide a cutter.

6. In spinning apparatus for producing cops of thread having a plurality of cop tube spindles, and holding means for each spindle for holding the thread on a portion of the spindle during exchange of a cop for an empty cop tube, whereby thread is collected on said portions of the spindles, the improvement which comprises a collected thread removing device for removing said collected thread from the spindles, including:

(1) a suction means having an intake opening disposed adjacent the collected thread portion of each spindle for application of suction to said portion;

(II) releaser means for each spindle for releasing the collected threads in the spindle for the taking up of the released threads by the suction means through the suction means intake opening for the spindle; and

(111) means for selectively moving the releaser means between a first position in which the releaser means is in operative position for releasing collected threads as aforesaid, and a second position in which the releaser means is in inoperative position,

7. Spinning apparatus according to claim 6, said spindles being disposed in two rows, the section means intake p gs and the releaser means being disposed between said rows.

8. Spinning apparatus according to claim 6, said releaser means comprising a first saw tooth blade disposed for cutting of collected thread upon rotation of the spin- (1 n O e direction, and a second saw tooth: blade dis posed for cutting of collected thread when the spindle 3,112,601 12/1963 McCullough 57-52 rotates in the opposite direction. 3,210,922 10/1965 Winter 5754 9. Spinning apparatus according to claim 6, said re- 3,263,407 8/1966 Jones 57-34 leaser means comprising a peripheral edge portion of the intake opening contoured to provide a cutter. 5 FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 988638 4/1965 Great B UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

2,976,668 3/1961 Reiterer 57--56 D. WATKINS, Examiner. 2,977,181 3/1961 Reiterer 5756 X 10 

1. IN SPINNING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPS OF THREAD HAVING A COP TUBE SPINDLE, AND HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE THREAD ON A PORTION OF THE SPINDLE DURING EXCHANGE OF A COP FOR AN EMPTY COP TUBE, WHEREBY THREAD IS COLLECTED ON SAID PORTION OF THE SPINDLE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: (I) A COLLECTED THREAD REMOVING DEVICE FOR REMOVING SAID COLLECTED THREAD FROM THE SPINDLE, INCLUDING: (A) A SUCTION MEANS HAVING AN INTAKE OPENING, (B) RELEASER MEANS FOR RELEASING THE COLLECTED THREADS FROM THE SPINDLE, MOUNTED ON THE SUCTION MEANS FOR DISPOSITION IN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THE SUCTION MEANS IS DISPOSED WITH THE INTAKE OPENING ADJACENT SAID PORTIONS OF THE SPINDLE FOR APPLICATION OF SUCTION TO COLLECTED THREAD; AND (II) MOUNTING MEANS SERVING FOR MOUNTING OF THE SUCTION MEANS WITH THE SUCTION MEANS DISPOSED AS AFORESAID, WHEREBY SAID DEVICE CAN BE MOUNTED IN OPERATIVE POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE SPINDLE TO RELEASE COLLECTED THREAD AND DRAW THE RELEASED THREADS INTO THE SUCTION MEANS INTAKE OPENING. 